Godfrey
somewhat colored
So why did I think I needed another bag? Because I still have gear that doesn't quite fit right in the bags I have. Sheesh.
Black Label Bag is a New York based maker essentially making improved versions of some of the Artisan & Artist bags; The Photo Village sells them. I've had their "Oskar's One Day Mark II" bag for several years as well as the A&A ACAM1000 bag that it is a derivative of, and I much prefer it over the A&A. It's all in the details.
Similarly, I've had the A&A GCAM 1100 ("Elliot's Everyday Bag") for some years (bought used from a friend at a good discount. For some reason, using it hasn't appealed to me much: it's a little too boxy due to the stiffness of the padding inside, and it always seems to be a tight fit to get the Leica in and out. It's also a little too "man purse" in cosmetics with the glove leather facing and fancy pull tabs on the zippers.
So I saw that there was essentially the same bag from BLB but in canvas called the "Evans Walker Mark II" and for some reason it appealed to me, so I bought one. Its similar in size to the GCAM 1100 but a little thinner. The padding is a bit thinner and is a one-piece insert unlike the A&A bags, just like in the "Oskar's One Day Mark II". The fact that it is all canvas, more pliable than the GCAM1100, has waterproofed zippers, and has an external accessory pocket for storage cards, batteries, or film immediately makes it much more appealing and useful. It's a nice size ... a modest kit of a Leica M-P or M4-2 with two lenses, some accessories, and an iPad mini fit in it comfortably. It's also reasonably light. Things come in and out of it easily: it has no over-flap so once the zipper and top are broken in a little, the opening where the zipper closes it will just fold inside for quick access while shooting.
Worth considering if you prefer a smallish kit. Here's a link:
Black Label Bag "Evans Walker Mark II" from The Photo Village
G
Black Label Bag is a New York based maker essentially making improved versions of some of the Artisan & Artist bags; The Photo Village sells them. I've had their "Oskar's One Day Mark II" bag for several years as well as the A&A ACAM1000 bag that it is a derivative of, and I much prefer it over the A&A. It's all in the details.
Similarly, I've had the A&A GCAM 1100 ("Elliot's Everyday Bag") for some years (bought used from a friend at a good discount. For some reason, using it hasn't appealed to me much: it's a little too boxy due to the stiffness of the padding inside, and it always seems to be a tight fit to get the Leica in and out. It's also a little too "man purse" in cosmetics with the glove leather facing and fancy pull tabs on the zippers.
So I saw that there was essentially the same bag from BLB but in canvas called the "Evans Walker Mark II" and for some reason it appealed to me, so I bought one. Its similar in size to the GCAM 1100 but a little thinner. The padding is a bit thinner and is a one-piece insert unlike the A&A bags, just like in the "Oskar's One Day Mark II". The fact that it is all canvas, more pliable than the GCAM1100, has waterproofed zippers, and has an external accessory pocket for storage cards, batteries, or film immediately makes it much more appealing and useful. It's a nice size ... a modest kit of a Leica M-P or M4-2 with two lenses, some accessories, and an iPad mini fit in it comfortably. It's also reasonably light. Things come in and out of it easily: it has no over-flap so once the zipper and top are broken in a little, the opening where the zipper closes it will just fold inside for quick access while shooting.
Worth considering if you prefer a smallish kit. Here's a link:
Black Label Bag "Evans Walker Mark II" from The Photo Village
G
